The Long and Winding Road

The day has finally arrived: after nearly two years of watching campaign signs pop up on neighbors' lawns, being bombarded with advertisements, watching clips of Rev. Jeremiah Wright and pondering the definition of the word "maverick," the epic saga that is the 2008 presidential election is expected to reach its conclusion in approximately 13 hours. By this time tomorrow, the nation will either have its first female vice president or its first black president; regardless of the outcome, this is certainly a historic election. A New York Times video retrospective of the campaign effectively conveys the length and evolution of this election cycle (http://video.nytimes.com/), from the large pool of prospective candidates to the fierce battle between Clinton and Obama to the last leg of the campaign.

Considering the source, which has officially endorsed Obama, the video was less biased than one might expect. It provided quotes from both Obama and McCain supporters and avoided interviewing radicals who would cast either side in a poor light. The voters seemed well-informed and presented coherent arguments for their chosen candidate. This suggests that, beneath the mudslinging and superficial accusations that have plagued the campaign, some Americans are actually aware of the issues and have formed educated decisions. There might be exceptions, but it is erroneous and demeaning to claim that all Obama supporters are only choosing him because of his surface appeal and charisma, and it is also wrong to claim that McCain supporters are racist warhawks and religious zealots. Although people on Liberal college campuses might scoff at any person who presents Conservative ideas, it must be noted that a considerable portion of the population is aware of the Republican stance on issues and truly believes that their platform is the best way to run a country. This does not mean that they are ignorant or selfish; rather, it just means that they are different. The same should be said of any Democrat who has formed a personal political opinion based on facts.

Of course, as I watch the election results come in tonight, I will hope that a certain candidate wins the presidency. I will also be hoping that certain candidates win in state and local elections, and those candidates do not necessarily belong to the same party as my choice for president. However, regardless of whether or not my selected candidates claim victory, I hope that the elected leaders will make wise decisions. Their decisions might not reflect my opinions, but if they reflect the opinions of the majority of the population, I will be content. I simply want the greatest good for the greatest number of people, and a high voter turnout of informed citizens will presumably guarantee that the majority opinion prevails. Therefore, come what may this evening, I sincerely hope that we can wipe off the mud that has been slung around for the past two years and come together as truly united states.